Multimodal approaches

Contributed by: Cameo Flores

Types of learners

Multimodalism is primarily used for genre awareness studies and for flexible teaching methods. Knowing what types of learners there are will help you to understand what types of multimodal text practices you may be able to suggest to your peers.

When meeting with your peers, keep in mind that there are many types of learners. There are many ways to say one thing, in more ways than speaking. Here are the seven types of common learning styles, but remember that no single person belongs to a single learning style category and typically uses a combination of these learning styles.

Aural (listening)

Aural or listening learning occurs with the use of listening.

• Types of aural learning can include
  • Being attentive in a lecture.
  • Learning through song or lyrics.
  • Listening to an ebook.
  • Practicing sound theory.
• Using aural techniques in the writing center can include
  • Playing an example song for an analysis paper.
  • Listening to your peers.

Writing tips: try helping a peer come up with a song to remember how grammar mechanics work.

Kinesthetic (touch)

Kinesthetic, or physical learning, learning happens when an individual utilizes touch or movement of the body to learn. 

• Some examples include
  • Using hand motions to memorize a stanza from a poem.
  • Utilizing muscle memory used in dance or art.
• This type of learning can be seen in the Writing & Speaking Center when clients spell out words in the air with their hands.

Writing tips: If a peer cannot find a way to talk about an idea, ask if there is an action that can describe their point of view.

Logical (reason)

This type of learning refers to how an individual reasons with both academic and real life situations.

• Logical learning incorporates the use of reason in order to learn.
• This type of learning is commonly seen in the hard sciences and mathematics fields.
• Keep this in mind when talking with your peer, noting their major!

Writing tips: If a peer is struggling in creative writing, they may think in a more logical way. Try using the Creative Writing Room to break through the logic barrier.

Social (interaction)

This type of learning is inclusive and involves the necessity to interact with other people in order to learn. This is commonly referred to as socialization in a learning environment.

• Some examples of this include
  • Use of study groups.
  • Speaking out loud to memorize.

Writing tips: This is where rapport can help your peers to utilize social learning techniques— we primarily have conversations with our peers in the Writing & Speaking Center and in the classroom, so we use lots of social learning in writing!

Solitary (individual)

Solitary learning is the antithesis of social learning, where an individual prefers to learn on their own without guidance or outside human resources.

• An example of this is studying alone or putting in headphones for aural isolation.
• Keep in mind that this type of learning can be used in the Writing Center when we allow our clients to silently contemplate the topic at hand.

Writing tips: If a peer is struggling to understand a concept, give them a few minutes for silent free writing or drawing.

Visual (sight)

This type of learning incorporates the use of sight to understand a concept.

• Examples of this include
  • Needing to see a demonstration to understand a theory.
  • Watching a teacher write a problem out.
• The visual can prompt many ideas in the Writing & Speaking Center, and is often a good point to start brainstorming or understanding a concept you may not understand from a student.

Writing Tips: If you do not understand what a peer is trying to say, have them draw out what their thoughts are. A good place to get these ideas out is on the whiteboard walls and desks provided in the Writing & Speaking Center.

Verbal (talking)

Verbal learning incorporates two aspects— speaking and/or writing. For individuals to learn in this context, they must write out or speak their thoughts (connected to both social and solitary learning) in order to understand.

• Examples of this include
  • Speaking a part out loud to memorize lines for a play
  • Repeatedly writing vocabulary terms for internalization
• Verbal learning is the primary vessel of learning in academia today.

Writing tips: If you are stuck on an idea or are experiencing writer’s block, try talking it out with a peer. You may learn something new in the process of speaking about ideas out loud!